Hajduk and Dinamo Prepare for SuperSport Superkup at Maksimir on Saturday
July 8, 2022 - Hajduk and Dinamo will meet in the SuperSport Superkup match at Maksimir Stadium at 20:00 on Saturday.
At the first official press conference this season, Hajduk coach Valdas Dambrauskas and striker Nikola Kalinić gave their views on the upcoming match and answered numerous questions.
The Hajduk coach first reflected on the recent preparations in which four games were played against strong rivals:
"We are satisfied with our preparations; we have fulfilled the set goals and played matches against solid rivals. Therefore, in the pre-season, I don't worry about results, we are focused on progress, and I am sure the team will be at the right level soon. We also brought in a new player during the preparations; he played in a strong league, he plays in the style we want to play, and he is fast and will get in shape in a few games.
The season is just starting, the game will undoubtedly be challenging for both teams, and I think derbies are rarely attractive. Both teams will try to limit each other, and I think a moment of individual quality will decide the game. We have prepared well for this match, and we want to prove to everyone that we are ready," said the coach of Hajduk.
Asked about the expectations for the next season and the importance of support from the stands, striker Nikola Kalinić said:
"We play for the biggest Croatian club, and we have to fight for every trophy. Last year we won the Cup and were second; we are expected to be in a higher position this season. There are many games ahead of us; others have the same goals, and we can only promise the fans that we will do our best. Our fans are the best in the country and show it at every game. There will certainly be a lot of them in Zagreb, and I hope that we will repay them on the field, and in the end, we will all celebrate together," concluded Kalinić.
Dinamo Zagreb is also ready and presented their new jersey before the Superkup against Hajduk. Arijan Ademi, Josip Drmić, Luka Ivanušec, and Dario Špikić appeared in front of the press on Friday.
"We went through a lot of difficult preparations, worked hard, and are satisfied with how it all ended. We hope to be successful in the new season," said captain Ademi and revealed the expectations for the new season.
"It's just the beginning of the season, and it's hard to predict how the championship will end. Anyway, we'll do our best not to make it so dramatic. I hope we will be good and win the championship."
Ademi spoke about Dinamo's new additions - forward Josip Drmić and midfielder Robert Ljubičić.
"Both are excellent. We already saw last season what kind of player Drmić is, a real 'killer.' Ljubičić already showed us that he is a great player. They will be reinforcements for sure", concluded Ademi.
Drmić had a very good last season in Rijeka. He was the club's top scorer, but the expectations are even higher at Dinamo.
"It's hard to say what awaits us against Hajduk; I hope it will be a good match. The derby is already at the start; it will show where we are and what form we are. I'm looking forward to the match; we'll be ready," said Drmić.
"I'm not thinking about the goal; the most important thing is that we win and present ourselves well in the new shirt. If I manage to score, it will be great."
Bruno Petković will be his biggest competitor for that position.
"Bruno is a top player and top quality. He is one of the best players on our team. I think we can present ourselves well as a tandem. We complement each other well, each has his qualities, and we can make a good mix. The coach will decide whether we will play together, but we will certainly do our best."
Drmić is aware of the pressure at Dinamo and the high expectations.
"I always say that I work best under pressure. So it is important that teammates help, and then we will handle it well in the future and be successful if we work together," concluded Drmić.
After several months of problems with his abdominal wall, Luka Ivanušec is fully ready for the new season. He commented on the speculation that he could leave Dinamo in the summer transfer window.
"At the moment, I am focused only on Dinamo, and there are always stories and interests. I'm preparing for the season as if I'm staying at Dinamo, and then we'll see what happens."
Dario Špikić said that Dinamo had prepared well for the new season.
"We are ready for Hajduk; I believe in victory," said Špikić.
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
73rd Dubrovnik Summer Festival Opens on Sunday
7 July 2022 – The 73rd Dubrovnik Summer Festival will open on Sunday, 10 July at 9 pm, in front of St. Blaise’s Church, with the traditional raising of the Libertas flag to the verses of Ivan Gundulić’s Hymn to Liberty.
The rich and diverse programme, which both local and foreign audiences of all ages will enjoy in the coming 47 festival days, was presented at the press conference held on Wednesday, 6 July in the Sponza Palace by the Festival’s POA Paulina Njirić and Artistic Director Dora Ruždjak Podolski, where the City of Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković and Head of the Administrative Department for County Affairs and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Assembly Leader Žaklina Marević showed their support for the Festival as well.
"It is especially important to say that this 73rd edition of the Festival is actually a return to how things were before, for the first time after two years. I have to emphasise also the importance of the support we received in 2020 and in 2021, from the Ministry [of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia] as well as the City and the County. If the Festival hadn’t been held then in its full format, I am not sure that we would have been able to have such a rich programme now or be able to strategically look at the future that is certainly ahead of us – pointed out Artistic Director Dora Ruždjak Podolski.
The direction of the opening ceremony was entrusted to Aida Bukvić who co-wrote the script with dramaturge Marijana Fumić. Accompanied by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Ivan Hut, soprano Kristina Kolar will be joined by the Pro musica Mostar Academic Choir, Libertas Mixed Choir, Dubrovnik Chamber Choir, and Blasius Choir, with the Festival Drama Ensemble and the Acting students of the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts and Linđo Folklore Ensemble also performing. Alongside the large audience and important dignitaries gathered in front of St. Blaise’s Church, the opening ceremony will be followed by viewers and listeners of the Croatian Radio and Television who will be broadcasting it live.
The drama programme includes two premiere titles and three hit reprise productions, performed by the Festival Drama Ensemble. One of the most famous 17th century Dubrovnik prose comedies (the so-called smješnice), the juicy play Lovers with a plot that does not lose any of its relevance even three hundred years after publication, directed by Aleksandar Švabić and sponsored by OTP Bank, will be staged on 19 July at a new festival location – in front of St. Jacob’s Church. The relationship between masters and servants, the ridiculing of covetousness, miserliness, artifice and superstition, all revolving around the theme of courtship, will be presented by the best actors of the younger generation Marin Klišmanić, Andrej Kopčok, Boris Barukčić, Kristijan Petelin, Josipa Bilić and Veronika Mach, led by Nataša Kopeč and Dražen Šivak. Set design and costume design are done by David Morhan and Mia Popovska, stage movement by Damir Klemenić. Maro Market is the composer of the music, the lighting designer is Martin Šatović, and the advisor for Dubrovnik's speech is Maro Martinović.
August brings the culmination of the drama programme in the premiere staging of the cult Federico García Lorca tragedy Blood Wedding directed by the award-winning Franka Perković Gamulin. Despite being tied to the rural environment in the first half of the 20th century, the play bears universal values, considering the story it tells. Goran Ferčec did the dramaturgy, Igor Vasiljev set design, Doris Kristić costume design, Elvis Butković lighting design. Matija Ferlin is in charge of stage movement and Toma Serdarević is the director's assistant. With an impressive creative team, the doubly-cursed dramatic characters confined within their own limits and enslaved by their own passions will be embodied on stage by an impressive festival ensemble led by Ksenija Marinković, Jadranka Đokić and Nikša Butijer together with Lana Meniga, Luka Knez, Nikola Baće, Iva Kraljević, Tanja Smoje and Mojmir Novaković, who also composed the music. On 17 August the play will premiere at two locations on the island of Lokrum, sponsored by Hrvatska elektroprivreda (Croatian Electric Company).
To the delight of the audience, reprises of Festival hits are on the programme. Starting on 13 July, the drama programme will open with the award-winning staging of Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Paolo Magelli which premiered at the anniversary 70th Festival with Dubrovnik's own Frano Mašković playing the title role. Last year's success Lion House will follow, based on the eponymous debut novel by Ivan Salečić and directed by Aida Bukvić, its strong cast narrates the story of Dubrovnik, portraying it as a place where burdened history and burlesque transition clash. By now the audience favourite Mara and Kata, an original project by director Saša Božić done in collaboration with actresses Nataša Dangubić and Doris Šarić Kukuljica as the titular gossipmongers, is an indispensable part of the summer. The Festival will also host the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb and their stage adaptation of the world-renowned novel My Brilliant Friend by the mysterious writer Elena Ferrante, directed by the young Marina Pejnović already known well by the festival audiences. On the programme as well is the traditional performance by the Lero Student Theatre who will present a select scrapbook of faded pages of lost and lonely owners, their sadness, foreboding, suffering and silence in the play Ladies’ Park directed by Davor Mojaš.
The festival audience will enjoy listening to the great names on the Croatian and world music scenes as part of the music programme, which will be opened by one of the most respected voices in the baroque and classical milieu, the acclaimed soprano Nuria Rial, who will perform together with the distinguished Fahmi Alqhai and his Accademia del Piacere ensemble in the Rector’s Palace and bring an inspiringly fresh early music oeuvre. The same stage will see a concert dedicated to Croatian music by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble under the baton of maestro Ivan Hut, joined by soloists Franjo Bilić on the harpsichord and Lovro Merčep on the saxophone, after which the music programme continues with an integral performance of Liszt's Transcendental etudes by a musician of tremendous focus and energy Lovro Pogorelić. The Zagreb Quartet with bassoonist Žarko Perišić and clarinettist Milan Milošević will perform at the Rector’s Palace too, where the pianist Fazıl Say will play a Bach piece consisting of an aria and 30 variations, as well as his own original recital in the same week. After many years Roman Simović, violinist of brilliant virtuosity and limitless imagination, will return to the Festival. Vadym Kholodenko, one of most musically dynamic and technically gifted young pianists to recently emerge on stage, will first have a solo recital in the Rector’s Palace atrium where he will then perform with the violinist Alena Baeva two days later. Magnificent baroque compositions performed by the Antiphonus Vocal Ensemble will also echo through the Rector’s Palace, as well as the melodies played by the world's most respected classical guitarists Miloš Karadaglić who will also be performing there. Furthermore, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra with the young and promising soloists Lucija Stilinović on the flute and Veronika Ćiković on the harp under the baton of one of the most charismatic conductors of the new generation Dawid Runtz will hold a concert there. The unique project Dubrovnik on a Rock of Music will once again gather brilliant Dubrovnik musicians in an exciting ensemble of accomplished soloists under the direction of Tomislav Fačini, in this year’s edition featuring two soloists – flautist Đive Franetović Kušelj and mezzo-soprano Dubravka Šeparović Mušović.
A big jazz concert in the Gradac Park sponsored by Mastercard® will be held by keyboard and organ virtuoso, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy award winner, Cory Henry, who will be accompanied by talented musicians, reveal to the festival audience an unusual combination of jazz, funk, gospel and soul. Fans of world music will enjoy the performance of Indian musician Arnab Bhattacharya, who will present the deep and introspective sound of the sarod in the Sponza Palace atrium, on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the celebration of 75 years of Indian independence, which is joined by the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, under the auspices of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Embassy of India in Zagreb. The opera gala, the magnificent finale of the Festival on 25 August in front of the Cathedral, will bring one of the most interesting young soloists, the American soprano who has already had numerous performances on the world's most prestigious stages Nadine Sierra, and this year's Boris Papandopulo National Competition for Young Musicians winner Croatian tenor Filip Filipović accompanied by the indispensable hosts of the final concert, Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, this time conducted by maestro Ivan Repušić.
Ballet and dance lovers will relish the acclaimed neo-romantic staging of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice in Gradac Park, choreographed and directed by Leo Mujić and performed by the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb Ballet, as well as the performance of frequent festival guests, the Zagreb Dance Ensemble, with a contemporary dance show Revel Revel by the Spanish choreographer Roser López Espinosa, in which five women question the limits of their own freedom. A key part of the festival programme is the Linđo Folklore Ensemble, whose performances at the Festival celebrate the rich Croatian folklore, dance, and music heritage.
The rich accompanying programme includes Response, an exhibition by the exceptional Dubrovnik artist Izvor Pende, who will put up his large-format abstract oil paintings of strong colouristic expression in two locations, in the atrium of the Sponza Palace and in the Lazareti, and Livio Badurina’s Diary of an Actor – Rehearsal Room/Space of Appearance and Disappearance which will open at the Public Library Grad on the first day of August. The film programme brings the premiere of the Croatian Radiotelevision documentary Time of Aretej at the Jadran Open-air Cinema on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the legendary play Aretej at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and the screening of the recently premiered documentary film 80 Years of Radio Dubrovnik directed by Vedran Benić at the Slavica Open-air Cinema. On the same big screen, the festival audience can catch the winning domestic film from the Pula Film Festival, brought in cooperation with Dubrovnik Cinemas.
With the Behind the Stage programme in the Sponza Palace atrium, composers Ardian Halimi and Nina Perović will present themselves and their work as part of a two-week residency on the project #synergy: Sharpening the capacities of the classical music industry in the Western Balkans. The project is co-funded by the EU Creative Europe programme, with the aim of strengthening cultural cooperation and the competitiveness of cultural and creative industries in the Western Balkans. The main partner of the project is the KotorArt Don Branko’s Music Days from Montenegro, and alongside the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the project partners are: the Belgrade Festivals Centre (CEBEF) from Serbia, the Festival Ljubljana from Slovenia, the Kosovo Chopin Association from Kosovo and the Vox Baroque International Festival from Albania.
Always an important part of the Festival is the programme intended for the youngest audience, and this summer's the Festival is happy to announce real treats: one of the few plays in Croatia for children under two years of age – The Story of the Wheel, and for the slightly older kids the playful and interactive The Princess and the Pea, both of which will be staged by the Mala scena Theatre at the Bunić-Kaboga Summer Villa. The highlight of the children's program however will be put up at the Lovrjenac Fort, where the musical-stage work The Enchanted Forest will be premiered, with the support of the Caboga Stiftung foundation. The adaptation of the novel of the same name by the writer Sunčana Škrinjarić is directed by Lea Anastazija Fleger, the dramaturge is Nikolina Rafaj, the music composer Frano Đurović, and the conductor is Mateo Narančić.
"I would like to thank all the sponsors and donors who have been with us for years, and none of whom have given up on us in the last two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, besides the financing which is always very important, I can't help but thank all the people and all departments of the City who have, I would rather say fulfilled our wishes, than just worked with us – concluded the POA Paulina Njirić, extending special thanks to the citizens who have been suffering and loving the Festival for all these years.
The full programme of this year's Festival and as well as tickets to all performances are available online at the official website https://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/en/agenda and through the service www.ulaznice.hr, with the latter also available Festival Palace Box Office (Od Sigurate 1), which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Purchases made with Mastercard® and Maestro® cards provide a 10% discount, while purchases over HRK 500 receive a 30% discount voucher on festival souvenirs.
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival – the centre of Croatian and global spirit and culture, a place of creation and not just a place of visit, a place of community, ideas, and new artistic expressions, is traditionally supported this year by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik-Neretva county, Dubrovnik Tourist Board and numerous sponsors Euroherc, Mastercard, HEP, ACI club, ALH, Kraš, Coca-Cola, Croatia Airlines and TuttoBene and donors Caboga Stiftung foundation, OTP bank, and other benefactors who helped bring this most prestigious cultural event in Croatia to fruition.
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić Dramatically Advance to Wimbledon Doubles Final!
July 8, 2022 - Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić are in the Wimbledon doubles final - again!
Croatia doubles team Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić will defend their Wimbledon title in the doubles competition after defeating Colombians Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the semi-final of the third tennis Grand Slam tournament of the season. Mektić and Pavić won 6:7 (2), 7:6 (0), 4: 6, 6:2, 7:6 (10:4) after four hours and 22 minutes of play.
Mektić and Pavić thus achieved their 11th consecutive victory at Wimbledon and are now just one step away from defending the title.
Croatian pride and intensity ?? ?
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic have secured their spot in the gentlemen’s doubles final after a thrilling five set match, 6-7(2), 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/XKEkXA4WKv
In the second semi-final, Australians Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell also defeated Briton Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram 3.6, 6:7 (1), 7:6 (9), 6:4, 6:2 after a five-set drama. Interestingly, Ram and Salisbury had five match points in the third set, but they did not use them, and later they lost the match.
Colombians Cabal and Farah won Wimbledon in 2019, during 2020 there was no play on the London grass due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Mektić and Pavić celebrated last year at the All England Club. The last to defend the title in the doubles competition was Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian Nenad Zimonjić in 2008 and 2009.
The semi-final match was fantastic and full of twists and turns, but with many interesting points. It was an unusual match in which Pavić injured his right hand, Mektić was hit on the lip with a racket, and after the third set there was a break to close the roof, but the mechanism got stuck, and everything was prolonged.
It started great for the Croatian side. Already in the first game, they took away the service from their opponents, but the Colombians immediately retaliated by tying the game at 1:1. By the end of the set, there were no more service breaks, so the thirteenth game was decisive. Farah and Cabal led 2:0, then 4:1 and 5:2 after which the set went to their side.
During the tie-break, Pavić slipped and fell on his hand and sought medical help. Despite the pain, he continued the match, and later he almost did not use his right hand at all except to throw on the serve.
In the second set, both sides held their serves, so the decision again fell in the tie-break, which Pavić and Mektic played perfectly, without losing a point (7:0).
A new accident for the Croatian side happened in the third set at 4:3 for the Colombians. Pavić ran into Mektić with a racket and tore his lip. After finishing the game, Mektić used his mobile phone to check the condition of his teeth and lip, and then took a selfie with Pavić to the delight of the audience. Unfortunately, that set went to the Colombian side at 6:4 with a break in the last game.
After the third set, the organizers decided to close the roof, but the mechanism got stuck, and everything took longer than expected. However, the break was obviously good for the Olympic gold medalists because Pavić and Mektic quickly brought the set to an end (6:2) with two breaks, tying the match at 2:2.
In the decisive, fifth set, both sides firmly held their serves until the score was 5:4 when the Colombians reached the match point on Mektić's serve. Fortunately, the Croatian side pulled through and took the match to a super tie-break in which the Croatian duo won seven of the next eight points after 3:3.
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Former Champion of HNK Opera Finds and Presents Young Music Talents in Dubrovnik
July 7, 2022 - Diana Hilje, a famous mezzo-soprano and former champion of the Zagreb HNK Opera, returned to her native Dubrovnik after a successful career as an opera-concert singer.
She was interested in finding young, award-winning, and above-average talented children and youth at the "Luka Sorkočević" art school. Her idea to present this gifted youth to the city of Dubrovnik and beyond was recognized by Libertas Television, so the filming of Talents, a new documentary-musical series by Libertas Television and the Luka Sorkočević Art School, has begun.
In cooperation with the author Mario Bukvić, Diana finds award-winning and hard-working students and presents their professors and the classes from which the gifted children come. There are already 10 recorded half-hour episodes this year, and in each of them one student and one professor are presented. The episodes are broadcast every Monday at 21:00 on Libertas TV, and the announced episodes have aroused great public interest. While previews are currently underway, premieres and further filming of gifted children are expected in the Fall.
For more, check out our lifestyle section.
Five Croatian Wineries Achieve High Ratings at Wine Enthusiast
July 6, 2022 – Today, the Croatian Wine Alliance, a group of global teams promoting Croatian wines, reports that Wine Enthusiast, one of the top US-based wine publications with international ratings, gave five Croatian wineries and 12 wines ratings over 90 points showcasing the consistent quality of Croatian winemaking. The top three include the highest-ever 97 points for Saints Hills 2016 Ernest Tolj Plavac Mali Dingač, 95 for Saints Hills 2017 St. Lucia Plavac Mali, and 95 points for Volarević 2018 Platinum Plavac Mali.
“Everyone within the Croatian Wine Alliance is excited that Croatian winemakers are getting rewarded for the quality of indigenous varieties, and we encourage wineries to continue to submit wines to leading global ratings and competitions,” said Mirena Bagur, the leader of the Croatian Wine Alliance, and founder of Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., importer and online retailer with 70+ Croatian wines. “According to Wine Enthusiast’s rules, all wines need to be available for purchase in United States and they ship to most states.”
“We are honored that our wines are recognized by this magazine of global impact,” said Ernest Tolj, owner of Saints Hills Winery, Croatia. “A few years ago, it was unthinkable that Croatian wines would get more than 91 or 92 points, because there was limited understanding of our indigenous varieties. With persistent work on marketing, promotions and tastings specifically of Plavac Mali which deserves global attention, our wines St. Roko and Dingač St. Lucia started to get 93, 94 and 95 points, which was a sign that things are changing. Now, with 97 pts for the 2016 Ernest Tolj Plavac Mali Dingač, the bar has been raised high. The sky is the limit, and that motivates us even further.”
The five wineries rated with 90+ points by Wine Enthusiast in the August/September Buying Guide issue are:
- Saints Hills: various appellations
- Dingač: 97 to 2016 Ernest Tolj Plavac Mali Dingač; 95 to 2017 St. Lucia Plavac Mali; 93 to 2017 Black Plavac Mali
- Istria: 94 to 2020 Le Chiffre Chardonnay; 93 to 2021 Mala Nevina (Malvasia and Chardonnay)
- Volarević Winery, Komarna Appellation: 95 to 2018 Platinum Plavac Mali; 94 to 2016 Gold Edition Plavac Mali; 91 for 2015 Plavac Mali
- Terra Madre Winery, Komarna Appellation: 91 to 2016 Plavac Mali Premium; 91 to 2016 Komarna 7 Plavac Mali; 90 to 2016 Plavac Mali Barrique
- Fakin Wines, Istria: 90 for La Prima Malvasia Istriana 2018
Plavac Mali variety is grown in the southern-most wine region of Croatia – Dalmatia. Its name means ‘little blue’, referring to its appearance, small and dark blue berries. As a late-harvest variety growing under harsh conditions, it involves a complicated winemaking process which is why the winemakers have a saying that they need to “tame” it.
“We have conducted three years of scientific research about the influence of harvest date and length of maceration on polyphenolic and sensory characteristics of Plavac Mali, and our 2018 Platinum Plavac Mali is the first commercial vintage produced based on the research,” said Josip Volarević, M. Sc. Agriculture, owner and winemaker of Volarević Winery. “I am proud to have received 95 points for a young vintage of Plavac Mali, which spent only eight months in oak barrels. The rest of the aging will happen in a bottle, so I can only look forward to seeing what the future brings. We have already used the early findings of this methodology when producing the previous vintage of Gold Edition, and that is consistent with receiving 94 points for this wine, also from the Komarna appellation.”
Photo from Croatian Premium Wine: Josip Volarevic, M. Sc.. Agriculture, Volarevic Winery with research samples of Plavac Mali.
About Plavac Mali - Indigenous Croatian Red Variety
The UC Davis and University of Zagreb conducted a DNA study of the variety only to discover that Plavac Mali (vitis vinifera) is a descendant of Zinfandel (aka Tribidrag or Crljenak Kaštelanski) created by a natural hybrid with another indigenous variety, Dobričić. Plavac Mali produces several styles of wines, from medium-bodied and easy-drinking, to elegant and robust wines. The aromas in Plavac Mali are predominantly dark berries and Mediterranean herbs with expressive tannins, and mineral on the palate.
The annual production of Plavac Mali is over five million bottles annually, which is 7.5% of the total Croatian wine production, according to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and due to its distinct taste and a capacity to age well is the most likely red wine purchased and exported by both the wine industry and consumers.
About Wine Enthusiast Companies
Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine and food trends, enotravel, and provides over 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. The content ranges from the beverage industry news which evolves quickly and constantly, to expert analyses and feature reporting. Details on all ratings are searchable here Wine Enthusiast Companies is composed of Wine Enthusiast Media and Wine Enthusiast Commerce and is building the Wine Enthusiast Showroom, Education and Tasting Center (or Wine Enthusiast SET Center) at the corporate office in New York, reinforces the company’s value of continued learning and serves as a hub for the company’s long-standing practice of blind tasting wines for all ratings.
About the Croatian Wine Alliance – a Public-Private Collaboration
Lead by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., an online store shipping 70+ indigenous Croatian wines in the US, the Alliance raises awareness of premium Croatian wines and supports the work of Wines of Croatia within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce; The Croatian National Tourist Board. Participants are Croatian wine importers and distributors in the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe, as well as Croatian wineries.
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Czech PM Vows Maximum Efforts to Complete Process of Croatia's Schengen Entry
ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - The Czech Republic will do its utmost to ensure that Croatia's accession to the Schengen zone is completed during the Czech presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2022, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said during his meeting with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković in Prague on Thursday.
The meeting took place after the Czech Republic took over the rotating EU presidency on 1 July.
The Czech Republic has always supported and continues to support Croatia's admission to the Schengen zone. We are confident that Croatia meets all the criteria. We will do all we can to ensure that the accession process is completed during our presidency and that Croatia becomes a full member of the Schengen zone on 1 January 2023, Fiala said.
The Croatian prime minister praised the Czech presidency programme under the motto "Europe as a Task".
Europe as a Task: Rethink, Rebuild, Repower are the main priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Plenković said that these priorities fit the present time of challenges, such as the Covid pandemic, which still requires caution and vigilance, and Russia's terrible aggression against Ukraine and the fallout of the war, including increased prices and inflation pressure.
Plenković said that one of the highlights of the Czech presidency will be the adoption of the decision on Croatia's entry into the euro area on 1 January 2023.
"We believe that this autumn, under the Czech leadership of the EU, the final decision will be made on Croatia's entry into the Schengen zone on 1 January 2023," said Plenković, underscoring that this also meant deeper integration of his country into the EU.
Plenković said that Croatia appreciated the wish of Prague to put emphasis on southeastern European countries during its EU chairmanship.
For us this is particularly important because of Bosnia and Herzegovina, given that we together have advocated that it be granted the status of EU candidate. We expect BiH to implement the reforms, particularly those conducive to ensuring the equality of the Croats as soon as possible, said Plenković.
The Czech and Croatian premiers expressed their satisfaction with bilateral relations and with the activities of the respective minorities in their countries.
Commenting on the well-developed and diversified economic cooperation, Plenković said that the trade between the two countries was close to reaching €1 billion.
The Czech Republic is among the top 15 investors in Croatia, and the Czechs are the second most numerous foreign visitors to Croatia.
For more, check out our politics section.
Average Net Pay in Zagreb Higher €169 than Croatia's Average Wage
ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 -The average net pay paid by legal entities in Zagreb in April 2022 amounted to HRK 8,815 (€1,172), an increase of 6.6% from April 2021, according to the data provided by the city's strategic planning and development department.
Compared to the monthly national average, which amounted to HRK 7,547 (€1,003), the average take-home pay in Zagreb was HRK 1,268 (€169) higher.
The highest monthly net salary in legal entities in April was paid in the crude oil and natural exploitation sector amounting to HRK 34,558 and the lowest was in the leather industry, in the amount of HRK 4,869 the city's strategic planning and development department has reported.
The average gross salary in Zagreb was HRK 12,366, up 7.7% from April 2021.
(€1 = HRK 7.518169)
For more, check out our business section.
EC Okays €500m Croatia Scheme to Help Companies Hit by Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - The European Commission on Thursday approved an up to €500 million Croatian scheme to support companies across sectors in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EC reported.
The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), recognizing that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance.
The EC's Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, was quoted as saying that "in a period during which the functioning of the market is severely disturbed, this up to €500 million Croatian scheme will ensure that sufficient liquidity remains available to those companies affected by the current geopolitical crisis by incentivizing lending by private banks."
"We continue to stand with Ukraine and its people. At the same time, we continue working closely with the Member States to ensure that national support measures can be put in place in a timely, coordinated, and effective way while protecting the level playing field in the Single Market," she said.
Support to companies across sectors active in Croatia
Croatia informed the EC under the Temporary Crisis Framework of an up to €500 million scheme to support companies across sectors active in Croatia in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The measure will be open to companies active in all sectors affected by the current crisis, except credit and financial institutions.
Measure to be administered by HBOR
Under this measure to be administered by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), the aid will consist of limited amounts of aid or liquidity support in any of the following forms: (i) direct loans;(ii) subsidized loans; or (iii) interest rate subsidies, says the EC.
This measure is aimed at incentivizing lending by private banks to companies severely affected by the current geopolitical situation in a period during which the normal functioning of the market is significantly disturbed.
When it comes to limited amounts of aid, (i) the support will not exceed €35,000 per company active in the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture sectors and €400,000 per company active in all other sectors; and (ii) the aid will be granted by 31 December 2022 at the latest, says the EC.
When it comes to liquidity support in the form of subsidized loans, the maximum amount per beneficiary will be equal to (i) 15% of its average total annual turnover over the last three closed accounting periods; or (ii) 50% of the energy costs incurred over a 12-month period preceding the application for aid.
Furthermore, (i) the maturity of the loans is limited to six years; (ii) the annual interest rates on the loans respect the minimum levels set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework; (iii) the loans relate to investment or working capital needs; and (iv) the loans contracts will be signed by 31 December 2022 at the latest.
Exceptionally, when the companies are active in sectors that are particularly affected by direct or indirect effects of the current geopolitical crisis and the related sanctions, the amount of the loan may be increased to cover their liquidity needs (i) for a 12-month period for SMEs; and (ii) for a 6 month-period for large enterprises.
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Ex-Minister, State Employee Behind Bars Awaiting Interrogation by EPPO
ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - Former agriculture minister Tomislav Tolušić and Željko Ferenc, an employee of the Paying Agency for Agriculture, who were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of subsidy fraud and abuse of office in two wine sector tenders, are to be interrogated by European investigators.
Tolušić and Ferenc, who were apprehended in their homes in the eastern Croatian city of Virovitica on a warrant issued by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), have been transferred to Zagreb for questioning.
A Zagreb County Court investigating judge will decide on their detention if the European investigators make such a request.
Media outlets say that Tolušić was granted HRK 2.5 million in aid for his winery project under the EU scheme in which half of the sum is covered by the non-repayable grant and the other half is provided by the business concerned.
However, it has turned out that Tolušić's putative sum of another HRK 2.5 million did not exist and that he provided false evidence to show that he met the requirements for the grant.
Tolušić reportedly incited Ferenc to give a positive opinion on his application for the grant, although the application falsely stated that the piece of land in question had no crops planted in it, when in fact he had previously planted a vineyard there.
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Travel and Emotions: TCN Photographer Slobodan Kadić Wins FIJET Slovakia Award
July 7, 2022 - The second prize at the FIJET Slovakia international exhibition called 'Travel and Emotions' went to Slobodan Kadić, photojournalist of Total Croatia News and Glas Slavonia, for the photo "The wall is our witness," taken at the beginning of the year in Jerusalem (Israel).
The Slovakian Travel Journalists and Writers Association organized the international exhibition 'Travels and Emotions', which this year received 213 works from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Great Britain, and Ukraine).
This year's theme was "Life is not black and white," and the exhibition host was the Slovak town of Piešťany. The international jury, led by the exhibition curator, photographer, journalist, and writer Marián Pauer, evaluated the photographs in two categories: a set of photographs and a separate photograph, selecting 54 photographs for the exhibition. Voljen Grbac from Croatia represented FIJET in the international jury and participated in the exhibition in Piešťany. The winner of the first prize is Juka Jurica Galić (Croatia) for the series of photos 'Fisherman'.
Slobodan Kadic
"As a representative of the Croatian FIJET, I am particularly proud of the success of my colleagues Jurica Galić-Juka and the versatile Slobodan Kadić, whose works deservedly won awards at this prestigious competition by unanimous decision of the jury. I hope that this will motivate them to dedicate themselves even more wholeheartedly to the great and beautiful art of photography, and I wish the exhibition a long life and as many visitors as possible on its way to Europe," says Voljen Grbac, emphasizing that this year's exhibition is the best in terms of quality.
The first prize for an individual photo went to Ivan Kenez from Slovakia (Tatra impressions). In previous years, FIJET Slovakia exhibited photos abroad, in Budapest and Kuwait. This year's exhibitions are planned to be held in October in Vienna and Slovak Poprad (High Tatras). Tina Eterović Čubrilo, the president of the Croatian FIJET, congratulated the Croatian photographers, who praised the exceptional work of her members.
"We are especially proud of the awards of Slobodan Kadić and Jurica Galić Juka. And this photo award proves the activity of our members who follow all the actions of the FIJET world association and their professionalism, which is recognized at the world level. In addition, our journalists and photographers have a special feeling for the attractiveness and beauty of details," concluded Čubrilo.
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